A reporter from the Albany Archdiocese came to Sue’s class this week to interview her. She is getting an award for being the best teacher in the Catholic School system, the highest award a teacher can get. Sue is humble, to say the least, and she may not mention it. I hope she does. She deserves it. I’m not the least bit surprised. When the reporter walked into her classroom, he said, “This is an explosion of art.” That’s Sue, an exposition of art and love and life. The great teachers become legends; she became a legend some years ago. Welcome again to her weekly column, and thanks again for supporting her work. We are scheming an Amazon Wish List for the art supplies Sue needs this year. Stay tuned. – Jon Katz
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News from the Art Room – An Explosion of Art
Time is zooming. It is Monday, then Friday, and I have not accomplished half what I wanted to. It is excellent, though. So many students are deeply engaged with their projects and exceeding expectations. An old friend and reporter came to draft a story yesterday, and he said, “It’s an explosion of art in this room! Everywhere you look!” I love that.
We are so blessed to have a variety of materials; thanks to all of you! My two favorite mantras are: great art takes time and go big or home. I love to watch them get lost in what they are doing. I am like that when I paint at home (not as much as I would like to); I get lost for hours when I should be doing other things.
The younger students wanted to try food art this week. We just redid a bed at home, and I had a 3-inch covered foam topper to cut up! It turned into a delightful competition: colossal ice cream cones, steak, baked potatoes, bacon, egg and cheese bagels, a bit of everything! Such fun!
The wire figure sculptures are going to be exceptional. I was concerned it was over the grade level, but they are nailing the assignment as usual. My studio class rocks this year. I caught a photo of Emma with her wire figure in progress. She has been working overtime before and after school all week!
There was a lot of middle school sewing. Bethany quilted her first pillow, and she is delighted with the results. Ricardo has been carrying his around for days!
I am getting the art ready for the annual show at the Empire State Plaza that opens on the 24th. The students love to see their work mounted and tagged for display!
Karen from New York sent a fabulous box that included so many just plain cool items, including beach glass, which is hard to come by these days and a favorite. Folks are starting to send cooking items, which is such a help!
Teresa from WA sent a beautiful child’s handmade weighted blanket, which our Director of Development was happy to get. From Washington! Thank you, Teresa! We hold a silent auction in the spring, and the blanket will be a terrific addition.
Our beloved Andrea from MA! Yet another box of wonder with kitchen and other items! We are running out of glassware because food art is so popular this year, and she is such a help!
So many people stay in touch with emails and letters. I read most of them to the students and make sure they know where the things they are working with have come from. Paige is creating this romantic picnic sculpture with love letters on rice paper, candles, and a bottle of wine. It happened because she found a locket with photos in one of the donation boxes and started to imagine a couple in love long ago.
Her imagination often awes me, and I cannot wait to show off the finished piece. In art club today, we were taking a candle stick apart with a hammer, and someone said, boy, you trust her (with my hand under the hammer), but she is fantastic, as are so many students. Imagination…looking at her picnic in progress, I can almost see the young couple in the locket!
Jon shared the photos of my former students at the Karen New Year last weekend. It was wonderful to see them. I am so proud of who they have become!
We will begin a new course on the art and photography of food at the end of January. If you have unused baking tools, I would happily use them. We plan to do some baking, food decorating, food art, and photography. Since this is a new course, I would love to hear any suggestions that have worked for others.
We are looking for baking supplies if you have anything you no longer use. We always seek donations for anything you feel could be made into something new! We are looking for rolled gauze, wire, glassware, canvas, art supplies, heavy foil, pinecones, glue sticks, baking tools, seashells, sea glass, bottle corks, sandpaper, and wood. I love hearing from you. My email is [email protected].
Have a blessed day! Happy New Year!
Sue
ND-BG
2600 Albany Street
Schenectady, New York 12304